This book includes an overview of the slave economy, a brief description of the history of the Underground Railroad, and, divided into four geographic sections, thirty-six tales of the slaves who escaped and the men and women who helped them. These sections are the Mid-Western states, the Mid-Atlantic states, the New England states, and the Finger Lakes Region.

    The tales relate the hardships faced by the fugitive slaves, who risked danger, separation from loved ones, and punishment to gain their freedom. Yet gain it they did—escaping on foot, by boat, hidden as wagon cargo, and even shipped as rail freight. The stories of the men and women who helped them to escape demonstrate their willingness to expose themselves to injury, imprisonment, and death to aid their fellow men and women.

    Biographical sketches of six of the most influential members of the Underground Railroad movement are provided in Chapter 5. The Finger Lakes Region of New York State was chosen to provide examples of Underground Railroad stations and routes.  Chapter 6 provides a description of eight routes and forty-one stations through central New York State.

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